Had this same thing with Animal Collective
I kind of struggle to see this, as heās usually narrating either in character or as a third party watching the action happen around him - heās almost never the focus of the song.
Really wanted to like the Tiny Changes album but I think the Twilight Sad cover is the only one I like
Think there was a weird cover of Bright Pink Bookmark that I remember being interesting as well actually but thatās about it, sadly
Great band, straight up 5.
I think what separates them from other classic rock band is Finn. Itās his delivery that he spits out and the lyrics and the way he weaves the same characters and references into the songs and repeating lyric lines that crop up throughout them that creates a real tangible world and itās really fun as a fan when you start to pick up on them. Heās a great unreliable narrator and teller of tall tales.
I can see if youāre not a lyrics person you might not get much from them but if you are and give them time thereās something really special.
Also 5 for Lifter Puller for the same reasons, and If you donāt like the Hold Steady cos of the classic rock them they might work a bit better for you.
Ahhh I love em. Got into them with Stay Positive and rinsed that then was delighted to go back and discover their older albums were even better. Been lucky enough to go to two of the big London shows and also see Craig do a solo show in King Tutās, all excellent.
I just love the world created by the narratives from the songs and how they all link together throughout their discography. Helps that theyāre all brilliant to sing/shout along to.
5/5
I mean heās not singing autobiographically or from wish fulfilment, heās a story teller writing about characters.
When this all comes together, oh man
Actually sort of hate how hard this works on me, itās so simple but it just puts all the hairs on my arms up. Just super-well-executed rock dynamics mostly.
Magnetic Fields for me.
Weirdly I find this to be an offputting aspect of them at times.
Can sometimes seem too overly self referential and meta and just a wee bit smug.
bizarrely this is the song over credits of the straight to DVD sequel to The Lost Boys. It was the best part of that waste of time (and hilariously unexpected - doesnātā fit the tone at all).
Same. Raved about by so many people I know and trust musically, but just found them really dull whenever iāve listened to them. Iām not a fan of Springsteen as it is, so there worship of him was never going to go down well with me anyway. 1.
tbf you can write characters that still reflect you wants/desires/views etc.
not that I agree with Woodchuck, just donāt think being a storytelling song-writer undermines their point that much
always felt it was a shame this one was buried in that 3 song bonus track at the end of stay positive. Love the brass.
Waitā¦ I may be thinking of Gaslight Anthem with the Springsteen love off. Either way, what iāve heard of this lot didnāt do much for me.
Sure, but
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I donāt see that happening here, I donāt think Craig Finn has a secret desire to be involved with small time gangsters and drug scenes in St Paul. I said I donāt think itās wish fulfilment.
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I canāt see any evidence of what is being mentioned in that post in his songs anyway
Me too!
Brilliant song!!
Yes, but also at the same time quite silly!!